title: Cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between perceived stress and C-reactive protein in men and women.
abstract: To date, an examination of the longitudinal relationship between perceived stress and C-reactive protein (CRP) is limited. We explored the relationship between perceived stress and CRP concurrently and across 2 and 4 years in 383 men and women. Multiple linear regressions examined the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between baseline stress and counter-stress scores with CRP at baseline, 2 years after baseline and 4 years after baseline, while controlling for covariates (age, smoking status, anti-inflammatory use, oral contraceptive use, physical activity, menopausal status, years since onset of menopause, post-menopausal hormone use and body mass index). Results indicate that stress and counter-stress were not related to CRP in either men or women at study baseline or 2 years later. Across a 4-year time frame, higher stress values were related to higher CRP values in women, but not men. Counter-stress was not related to CRP values in men or women across the 4 years. This study highlights the importance of examining the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationship between perceived stress and inflammation separately in men and women.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA; Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Celestina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barbosa-Leiker
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Roper
authors.forename: Sterling
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McPherson
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Trynke
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hoekstra
authors.forename: Marylynne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kostick
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: C-reactive protein; inflammation; perceived stress